2018 Jeep Cherokee
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 686 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 12 Cherokee model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 11 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power trainApr 29, 2025
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may become damaged and disengage the transmission and differential, resulting in a loss of drive power and/or loss of park function.
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. A loss of park function can cause an unintended vehicle rollaway, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will update the drivetrain control module and PTU software and replace the PTU, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 19, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 01C.
Campaign 25V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiring, front underhoodAug 9, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
Campaign 18V524000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftJul 26, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee all-wheel-drive vehicles. The bearing cage for the right front halfshaft assembly may not have been properly heat treated, possibly resulting in the bearing cage breaking and a potential halfshaft assembly failure.
If the halfshaft bearing cage breaks, the halfshaft may not be able to transmit engine power, causing a loss of drive or it can allow the vehicle to move while in the "Park" position. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front right halfshaft assemblies, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U78.
Campaign 18V494000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 17, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Campaign 18V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMay 1, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine. These vehicles may have been manufactured with a fuel tube that may leak fuel into the engine compartment.
A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tube, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U39.
Campaign 18V282000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineOct 24, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Cherokee and Compass vehicles equipped with 2.4L engines. The engines may have a cracked oil pump housing that can result in oil pump failure.
If the oil pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the oil pump, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 5, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T65.
Campaign 17V670000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsAug 31, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The tire and rim size information required to be on the Certification label was omitted during manufacturing, which may result in an incorrect tire and rim combination being installed on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners and will provide a corrected certification label, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T53.
Campaign 17V543000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
173 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Nov 19, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER CALLS OUT FAULT
Other or unspecified, Nov 17, 2019
I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES, WITH NO SOLUTION. MY SCREEN ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD HAVE A MESSAGE COME ACROSS IT SAYING "SERVICE SHIFTER" WITH ALL THE PRND-+ LIGHTS COME ON. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M EITHER DRIVING OR PARKED.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 13, 2019, crash
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE COMING UP, ALL LIGHTS ON SHIFTER TURNING RED AND CAR NOT DRIVING PROPERLY. HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE IT GO AWAY.
Other or unspecified, Oct 24, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME ON DASHBOARD AND ALL GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS WERE LIT RED. (PRNDL). THIS IS SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 5 MONTHS. 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE UNDER 14,000 MILES!!! GOT IN MY VEHICLE STARTED IT AND THEN THE WARNING AND LIGHTS CAME ON. TURNED VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED AND NO MORE WARNING!! THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO A NEW VEHICLE AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO HAVE IT RECALLED!!
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 20, 2019
WE PURCHASED A USED 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE LATITUDE (LESS THAN 13,000 MILES) FROM A DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO SPRINGS ON 10/17. ON THE WAY HOME, ABOUT 100 MILES, THE STOP /START WARNING LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON ABOUT 8 MILES FROM HOME GOING APPROX. 50 MPH. WE DECIDED TO GET IT HOME. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY, WE PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. WE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND AT RESTART, THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE RESET. WE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND THEY RECOMMENDED CHANGING OUT BATTERY. WE DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT THE BEST BATTERY THEY HAD FOR THAT VEHICLE. WE DID NOT USE THE JEEP FOR THE NEXT DAY (FRIDAY). SATURDAY 10/19 WE DROVE IT DOWN TO DENVER (ABOUT 60 MILES) WITH NO PROBLEM. ON THE WAY HOME, AGAIN THE STOP /START WARNING LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON GOING APPROX. 60 MPH. WE DROVE TO A PARKING LOT AND MADE A TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. AT THAT POINT POWER STEERING WAS OPERABLE. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN IN REVERSE AND THEN NOTICED NO POWER STEERING, I PLACED THE CAR IN DRIVE AND AGAIN NO POWER STEERING. WE STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE RESET. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER AND REAR DEFROST HAD BOTH BEEN SWITCHED ON AUTOMATICALLY.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 17, 2019
WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH 'SERVICE SHIFTER' ALL LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER THEN LIGHT UP RED THE 'PRNDL' THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED BY THE DEALER AND THE SHIFTER/ WIRING HARNESS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MOST JEEPS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND NO RECALL HAS YET BEEN MADE, I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 7 MONTHS AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THUS FAR. THIS BEING AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT JEEP IS AWARE OF I FEEL THAT SOME ACTION SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE CUSTOMER. I AM A LOYAL JEEP CUSTOMER BUT AFTER THIS ISSUE NOT BEING RESOLVED FOR YEARS I MAY NOT CONTINUE TO BE A LOYAL CUSTOMER AND GO ELSEWHERE TO PURCHASE MY NEXT VEHICLE. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 25,2019 AND HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE.
Other or unspecified, Oct 13, 2019
I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 13300 MILES ON MY JEEP AS I WENT TO PARK MY CAR I NOTICED THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL AS PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, AND DRIVE WERE ALL LIT UP ON THE SHIFTER WHEN I LOOKED THIS UP ON GOOGLE THERE WHERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINS MY JEEP IS STILL BRAND NEW I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM! I DID NOT TURN IT BACK ON TO SEE IF IT WENT AWAY I PLAN ON TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. I ALSO BOUGHT IT WHEN IT ONLY HAD 5 MILES ON IT NO REASON AT ALL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THEREFORE SHOULD BE A RECALL!
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Sep 24, 2019
SINCE ABOUT 18K MILES ON VEHICLE I HAVE BEEN REPORTING ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTING, TRANSMISSION. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEY SUDDENLY THINK THEY KNOW WHAT WILL FIX IT. BUT I NOW HAVE TO PAY ALMOST $800 TO GET IT FIXED.
Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2019
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON.
Other or unspecified, Aug 20, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" LIGHT POPS UP ON SCREEN AND THE P,R,N,D ALL LIGHT UP AT ONCE WHILE DRIVING.
Other or unspecified, Aug 19, 2019
LOW PRESSURE OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TURNING. ONCE THE CAR DID NOT START, I HAD TO GET IT TOWED, TO FIND OUT THE CAR WAS OUT OF OIL, THOUGH THE DISPLAY READ LOW OIL PRESSURE IS AT 53%. I GOT AN OIL CHANGE AND A LITTLE OVER A MONTH, THE LIGHT STARTED TO COME BACK ON.
Other or unspecified, Aug 18, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING SHUTTING ALL SYSTEMS DOWN. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LANE WITH KNOW MEANS OF MOVING MY VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. I CALLED TRIPLE A AND WAITED 1.5 HOURS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR A WRECKER. APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE WAS LOW ON OIL SO IT SHUTDOWN. HOWEVER I WAS NOT DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY OIL LIFE WAS AT 13%. MY VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ALERT ME THAT I WAS LOW ON OIL. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO MY SERVICE PERSON AT CHARLIE'S IN AUGUSTA MAINE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT 8000 MILES AND IT WAS 2 QUARTS LOW. THEY TOLD ME IT'S COMMON FOR A VEHICLE TO USE THAT MUCH OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THEY DID AN OIL CCONSUMPTION TEST AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. JEEP SAYS YOU CAN USE A QUART EVERY 800 MILES. THAT IS 7.5 QUARTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES IN A NEW VEHICLE. UNACCEPTABLE AND NOT SAFE FOR A VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CONSUMER STATED THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS STALLED DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE. HOWEVER A FEW OIL CHANGES AGO CHARLIES DID AN OIL CHANGE AND TOLD ME MY OIL LEVELS WERE LOW. I THOUGHT THIS UNUSUAL AND THEY DID AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WITH NO FINDINGS. AT THIS TIME THEY DID NOT TELL ME THERE WAS AN OIL CONSUMPTION SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE KEEPS APPEARING ON THE DASH AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER WILL TURN RED. HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT LEAST ONCE A DAY (SOMETIMES 4-5 TIMES) AND TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A BUMP (NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR BIG). IT CAN ALSO SOMETIMES HAPPEN WHEN YOU TAP THE SIDE OF THE CONSOLE. FORUMS ONLINE SUGGEST THAT THE ISSUE IS HAPPENING BECAUSE THE WIRES FROM THE SHIFTER KEEP BUMPING INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SHORTING (HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T68742_DS990296). I AM STILL ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY ANNOYING BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD.
Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2019
7/12/19 - WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY JEEP SIGNALED A WARNING NOISE - WITH NO DIGITIZED WARNING AND THE D LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON MY GEAR SHIFT - THIS DISABLED MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD - TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE - TURNED IT BACK ON AND CONTINUED DRIVING. 8/06/19 - I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING CAME ON MY DISPLAY AND ALL OF MY GEAR SHIFT LIGHTS (PRND) WERE ILLUMINATED. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 3/2018 BRAND NEW - IT HAS UNDER 23K MILES.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2019
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET TO GET TO THE HIGHWAY ALMOST 5 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE MY DASH SCREEN POPPED UP WITH A WARNING SAYING THAT MY SHIFTER NEEDED SERVICED... WHEN I LOOKED AT THE GEAR SHIFTER ALL OF THE LIGHTS WERE LIT UP(P,R,N&D)...I FREAKED OUT AND PULLED OFF AT A GAS STATION PUT IT IN PARK TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED A MINUTE... WHEN I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP ALL OF THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF AND IT WAS FINE... I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN IT LITERALLY HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE...
Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A COUNTY ROAD AND THE ERROR NOISE WENT OFF. ON THE DASH I GOT A 'SERVICE SHIFTER' NOTICE AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER STAYED LIT RED ' P, R, N , D, AND THE - AND +'. I PULLED OVER, SHUT OFF THE CAR, WAITED A MINUTE AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT WENT AWAY.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2019
"SERVICE SHIFTER" APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. THE GEARS ALL WENT RED. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO MOVE AS NORMAL, BUT THE MESSAGE WAS STILL THERE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY.
Other or unspecified, Jun 28, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT CAME ON. WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE CAR CAN GO INTO GEAR NOW WITHOUT HAVING TO HIT THE BREAKS..
Other or unspecified, Jun 28, 2019
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH WHEN GOT WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR STOP LIGHT AND IT JUST SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I SAT FOR A MINUTE WITH HAZARDS ON AND THEN TRIED TO START IT, IT WAS TURNING OVER BUT NOT STARTING SO I HAD TO GIVE IT GAS WHILE TRYING TO START IT. GOT HOME AND WENT BACK OUT LATER TO TEST IT AND STARTED UP. IT SHUTS TOTALLY DOWN WITH NO WARNING
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jun 18, 2019
DURING THE COURSE OF TRAVELING ON JUNE 18TH 2019 I RECEIVED A MESSAGE VIA THE DISPLAY THAT SAID "SERVICE SHIFTER". IN ADDITION THE GEAR SHIFT PANEL (PARK, REVERSE, DRIVE) COLLECTIVELY ILLUMINATED IN RED. THE ISSUE GAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE TRANSMISSION OR GEARS COULD CEASE FROM WORKING WHILE IN MOTION.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 5, 2019
RECIEVED A "SERVICE SHIFTER" MESSAGE AND ALL THE LIGHTS NEAR THE SHIFTER WERE LUMINATED RED
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2019
THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHT COMES ON AND ALL GEARS ARE SHOWING UP IN RED WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON SETS THE GEAR BACK TO NORMAL FOR ONLY A FEW MINUETS, THEN SERVICE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES BACK ON WITH ALL GEARS ILLUMINATED IN RED. THE JEEP HAS THE TENDENCY TO JERK FORWARD WHEN PLACED INTO PARK AND ALSO DURING ACCELARATION THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO LAG CAUSING A JERKING MOTION IN MY JEEP.
Other or unspecified, May 31, 2019
MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING 'SERVICE SHIFTER' DISPLAYS ON DASH. ALL LIGHT OF THE SHIFTER ARE LIT RED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS, HIGH SPEEDS AND WHOLE IDLING.
Other or unspecified, May 8, 2019
SERVICE SHIFTER WARNING COMES ON BUT CAN'T BE FIXED
Other or unspecified, May 7, 2019
VEHICLE STOPPING AND SHUTTING OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION) EACH AND EVERY TIME ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. FIRST TIME IT SHUT OFF, DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS DUE TO OIL CHANGE.SECOND TIME DEALERSHIP SAID A RECALL ON THE SHIFT GEAR IN WHICH I WASN'T NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL. THIRD TIME IT SHUT OFF, DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS AN OIL LEAKAGE. FOURTH TIME IT STOPPED, DEALERSHIP SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO FIX IT. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, CHRYSLER RESPONSE WAS TAKE IT HOME AND DRIVE IT AGAIN AND BRING IT BACK IF IT SHUTS OFF AND MAYBE THEN WE WILL FIX IT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN THE LAST TIME DUE TO IT NOT STARTING AND SMOKING IN THE TAIL PIPE. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE RADIO CUT OFF COMPLETELY, SCREEN JUST WENT BLACK. MY CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON APPROVAL FROM CHRYSLER TO GET FIXED. THIS JEEP IS VERY UNSAFE, DANGEROUS,AND A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY SON AND I. IT HAS PUT ME AND MY SONS LIFE IN DANGER ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE EVEN IF THEY CAN FIX IT BECAUSE ITS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT I WILL NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES AGAIN AND NEXT TIME IT COULD COST US OUR LIVES.